Netflix’s Jewish Romantic Comedy ‘Nobody Wants That’ Was Inspired by a True Love Story

What happens when an agnostic-shiksa-slash podcast host and an unconventional rabbi meet at dinner? Immediately, sparks fly, but the path to love will be anything but easy when their intrusive friends and family get involved. Oh, very…

Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody) must face different life views on top of all the normal obstacles to modern love as her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) and brother Sasha (Timothy Simons) attempt to help their respective brothers and sisters find their way. this new relationship.

In an interview just before the ten-episode series premiered on September 26, series creator Erin Foster told me that she was motivated to write the pilot script because she had lived the experience. She used her creative license to up the ante by making Brody’s character a rabbi, but the real-life detail she didn’t change was that she fell in love with a Jewish man.

“I was 35 and single in Los Angeles and I thought this wasn’t going to happen for me, or that maybe I was going to be a great second wife to someone and a stepmother. I was still making the same bad relationship decisions at 35 as I was at 22 and I felt like I was never going to end that cycle,” Foster admitted, adding that she found peace with her single status.

“Then Simon came into my life and I didn’t expect it. He was my perfect person, which doesn’t mean we didn’t have conflicts. He challenged me in all the right ways. He wasn’t what I expected. When I converted to Judaism, it was an interesting process. I grew up in Los Angeles with a lot of Jewish friends and the idea of ​​converting was like, “Sure, whatever. I will be Jewish. All my friends are Jewish. But converting for someone whose parents were immigrants from the Soviet Union, who fled because they were Jewish, means something different. »

Like Bell’s character, Foster was agnostic. She grew up in a Christian family but says her parents were not religious. There is no way to ignore the fact that this series is coming out during a time of increased anti-Semitism. When asked about this, it’s clear that this is a sensitive issue for Foster.

“I hope this doesn’t stop some people from watching the show. Anti-Semitism is one of my main concerns. I’m proud to have made a Jewish romantic comedy because we need it. This show sheds a positive light on Jewish culture in a fun and light-hearted way. I’m not trying to solve global problems with this series. I don’t think I’m the person who can solve this problem, but what I can do is create a Jewish story that shows Jewish culture in a positive light and also teaches people some things about Judaism in a light-hearted way , because I had such an experience. beautiful experience of embracing Judaism in my own life. I’m excited to be able to share this on a global level.

In a separate interview, Bell and Brody talked about playing these characters. Bell had taken three years off work to stay home with her children, but was ready to return to work when she read Foster’s script. She told me she grew up in an all-Jewish community in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. “I was one of the good two. I begged for a Bat Mitzvah. Almost all of my childhood friends were Jewish.

Bell was attached to the project before Brody and knew he would be the perfect Noah. “I was particularly interested because the perspectives of romantic comedies weren’t from 22-year-olds, which seems very modernized. The second I read it, I thought it would be fun.

She immediately became friends with Joanne because she too fell in love with a man very different from her. “I married my polar opposite,” she said, referring to her husband, Dax Shepard. “We couldn’t be more different.”

As for Joanne and Noah and their many differences, Bell explained that falling in love is about honesty, integrity, a willingness to grow and basic trust. “When Joanne and Noah connect, their differences remain. Joanne is a child. She is spontaneous. She has difficulty becoming an adult. Noah is doing great as an adult but desperately needs a little spontaneity.

“He’s also stunted,” Brody said, adding that Noah had a lot of growing up to do. “He must stand up to his parents and follow his heart.”

Some of the funniest scenes in the series are those with Lupe, Simons and Jackie Tohn, who plays Noah’s sister-in-law Esther. The three shared their thoughts on the series during a group interview.

According to Lupe, when she read Foster’s script, she knew she wanted to play Joanne’s sister Morgan. “It’s Erin’s love letter to Judaism. I felt the heart and love and humanization of all the characters, and I understood that it was about overcoming those differences and finding the things that bring us together. I thought it was so rich and fun.

For Simons, this story is a celebration of Judaism. “We’re not trying to introduce world events into the show. The celebration of religion and culture is there and it is extremely positive.

Netflix is ​​expanding its lineup of scripted comedies and the streamer is particularly excited about this one. “We love Nobody wants that for its fresh take on romantic comedy and dating in a modern world,” said Tracey Pakosta, vice president of comedy series at Netflix. “It’s the feel-good, laugh-out-loud comedy that audiences craved and which demonstrates the quality and diversity of our scripted comedies.”

Addressing real-life issues and adding a touch of laughter to the mix is ​​the perfect way to educate viewers on topics they might not otherwise understand or relate to.

As Tohn said, it’s the perfect time for a Jewish romantic comedy. “Jews are fun!” Making people laugh feels good. It’s Jewish and that’s important to me, but insert any culture or ethnicity and people who want their child to be with someone who is from that same culture and it’s relevant.